Art of forcing snow-plows through snow-drifts



5 (No Model.)

J. BYPIELD.

ART OF FORGING snow PLOWS THROUGH snow mums, 88. No. 392,905. Patent ed Nov. '18, 1888.

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UNITED STATES JOHN BYFIELD, OF OHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ART OF FORCING SNOW-FLOWS THROUGH SNOW-DRIFTS, dc.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.392,905, dated November 13, 1888.

(No model.)

. tion.

My invention relates to the art or mode of removing snow from railway-tracks by means of snow-plows, so called.

The chief difficulty met with in the operation of snow-plows by the methods or processes heretofore employed is the fact that drifts are frequently met with which are so great in proportion and so dense in character that the plow becomes stuck in them, so that with available locomotive-engines the plow cannot be forced through the bank or drift, which once passed would leave it possible to operate the plow to free the track of not uncommon quantities of snow.

Myinvention consists in an improvement in the method of operating the plow to drive or force it through a drift or bank by strokes or blows of a weighted car directly in the rear of the plow,instead of by a constant pressure, the engine being, if desired, so operated or controlled that it may be relieved of the shocks which would come upon itif it wereitself either directly or indirectly brought against the plow to drive it through the drift or bank.

For a clearer explanation of my invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing, showing in outline a side view of a lo comotive-engine and other means which may be employed in carrying out my invention.

In said drawing, a designates a snowplow, which may be of any suitable or desired construction, (herein shown as so formed or organized as to first lift the snow and then throw it right and left upon the snow on each side of the track.)

I) designates a car-body mounted upon the trucks 0 and adapted to operate in the rear of and against the snow-plow a. It is designed that the body I) shall be made as strong and be as heavily weighted as the rails, trucks, and other devices or circumstances will per- Init.

d designates a locomotive-engine provided with means which may be operated from the engineers cab, whereby the locomotive may be coupled to or uncoupled from the body I). I have herein shown a bell-crank lever, e, fulcrumed on the engine, one arm of which lever is connected with the coupling'pinf and the other with a cord or rope, 9, extending to the cab, though any other suitable means may be employed to effect the coupling and uncoupling of the locomotive.

My invention may be practiced as follows: When the plow a becomes stuck in a drift or bank, so that the engine cannot crowd or push ittherethrough,the enginewi-ll be coupled with the car or body I), and the latter, disconnected from the plow a, will be drawn back a suitable distance and run forward at great speed until it approaches near to the plow a, when the engine, if not previously disconnected from the body I), will be uncoupled therefrom aud reversed. With this operation the body I) will by its own momentum be carried forward with great force against the plow, driving it into or through the drift or bank, while the momentum of the engine will have been overcome, or so far overcome by the reversing of the same as to receive an inconsequential amount of the impact or shock. In case the plow should not be driven through the bank or drift the operation just described may be repeated until it is forced to a point where the engine or engines may be able to push it steadily ahead.

It is to be observed that the form or construction of the plow, locomotive -engine,.or coupling means is not material to my invention, the essence of which resides solely in the art or method of employing means for extrieating or driving a snow-plow through a drift or bank.

Having described my invcntion,what I claim 1s- 1. Ihc art of driving or forcing a snowplow through a snow drift or bank, which consists in repeatedly drawing back and forcing forward against the snow plow a detached weighted body or car,substantially as set forth.

2. The art ofdriving or forcing asnow-plow through a snow drift or bank, which consists in attaehinga locomotive-engine to a weighted car or body directly in rear of the suowplow, In testimony whereof I have signed my name drawing said weighted car or body back, unto this specification, in the presence of two coupling it from the engine, and with the latsubscribing witnesses, this 20th day of April, ter forcingit forward until near the snow-plow, A. D. 1888.

5 and reversing the engine before it and theheavy body reach the plow, whereby the weighted JOHN BYFIELD. body will by its own momentum be carried against the plow and the engine will be prc- \Vitnesses:

vented from receiving the impact or shock, ARTHUR WV. ORossLEY,

10 substantially as set forth. I A. D. HARRISON. 

